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Masses rally in Bahrain over detention

About 2000 Bahrainis marched on Friday to demand the release of a human-rights activist arrested for criticising the Gulf state's prime minister.

02 Oct 2004 09:06 GMT

King Hamad: Attacks on senior officials will not be tolerated

Abd Al-Hadi al-Khawaja was jailed on 25 September after he blamed Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa for Bahrain's economic woes and called for his resignation.

His detention - and the consequent closure of a human-rights centre he ran - provoked sharp criticism from international rights groups and key ally United States, whose navy has its Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain.